Big 9th inning downs the Diamondbacks in finale

Post game sound from Kirk Gibson, Brandon McCarthy and Brad Ziegler on another tough loss for the D-Backs
Kyle Burton/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks' Gerardo Parra is tagged out by Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond after getting picked off of first base during the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. May 14, 2014.(Photo: Michael Chow/azcentral sports)

The trends for the Diamondbacks are getting to be as old as they are frustrating: More often than not, they cannot simultaneously perform all of the tasks required to win a baseball game, at least not when the game is being played at Chase Field.

They are six weeks into their season and they still have not won a series at home, a streak that continued when the Washington Nationals rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Diamondbacks 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

Right-hander Brandon McCarthy gave them eight strong innings and Diamondbacks' defenders made several standout plays. But as has happened so often this season, when some areas thrive, others fall woefully short.

Other than Aaron Hill's solo home run, the Diamondbacks had only one runner advance so far as second base. They also ran into an out on the bases. And not only did the bullpen suffer a meltdown, it was perpetrated by the least likely of sources.

When he entered the ninth inning with the game tied, reliever Brad Ziegler had not allowed a run in 19 consecutive appearances, a stretch encompassing 181/3 innings. The Diamondbacks had used him more than any reliever in baseball, and, since the first week of April, Ziegler's ERA had grown increasingly more microscopic with each appearance.

"He's been on an incredible run for us," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "He didn't have his location today."

Facing Denard Span to start the ninth, Ziegler jumped ahead 1-2, but Span worked the count full, then fouled off four consecutive pitches before laying off a sinker down and in to work a leadoff walk.

For as drawn-out as that at-bat was, everything else seemed to happen in a flash. Anthony Rendon lined a double to right field, Jayson Werth was intentionally walked to load the bases and Ian Desmond smacked the first pitch he saw into left field to put the Nationals ahead 3-1.

Two batters later, Tyler Moore dropped a single into center to score two more runs, and the Diamondbacks had managed to lose another game they had an opportunity to win.

"I felt like I had decent stuff, I just didn't execute pitches that well," Ziegler said, dismissing an excuse offered by a reporter of being overworked.

After winning six of nine on the previous road trip, the Diamondbacks dropped two games to the Nationals this week that were decided in the ninth inning.

"Overall, it seems like we played a pretty good series," Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado said. "We played good defense and they just took advantage at the last moment. That was the ballgame right there."

McCarthy allowed just one run — coming on a solo shot in the seventh by Werth, who launched a 2-0 fastball out to left-center field — but he again found himself in a joyless postgame clubhouse. The Diamondbacks have won just one of his nine starts.

"The win/loss from the personal side, I don't care about," McCarthy said. "But I would like us to be a team where, when you pitch, we win. That's more fun to be a part of."

After an off day today, they'll open another home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who already have won seven of eight meetings against the Diamondbacks this season.

"If you remember last year, it was just the opposite," Gibson said. "We beat those guys thoroughly in the first go 'rounds, and then it turned around. So we'll just go out and try to play our game, play better like we have been, get better pitching and hopefully we can reverse the trend."

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Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond (20) celebrates with Nate McClouth after scoring against the Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. May 14, 2014. Nationals won 5-1.
Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks' Gerardo Parra is tagged out by Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond after getting picked off of first base during the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. May 14, 2014.
Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill throws to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt covering first to force out Washington Nationals'Anthony Rendon to end the sixth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. May 14, 2014.
Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Washington Nationals CF Denard Span (2), second baseman Danny Espinoza (8) and RF Jayson Werth (28) converge on a ball hit by Diamondbacks' Martin Prado during the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. May 14, 2014. Diamondbacks' Gerardo Parra was forced out at second on the play, resulting in a fielder's choice.
Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Bruce, a robot from Paradise Valley High School robotics program, throws out the first pitch before the Diamondbacks play against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. May 14, 2014.
Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks pitcher Bronson Arroyo wears a bubble gum container following his 7-hit complete game 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Chase field in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Bronson Arroyo reacts following his 7-hit complete game 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Chase field in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks pitcher Bronson Arroyo reacts after throwing a 7-hit complete game 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Chase field in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

A fan is pulled back into the stands after he grabbed a foul ball as the Diamondbacks played the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Chase field in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Fans react as a foul ball is hit into the stands by Arizona Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt against the Washington Nationals in the 5th inning on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Chase field in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Bronson Arroyo high-fives Martin Prado after both scored on a Paul Goldschmidt double against the Washington Nationals in the 5th inning on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Chase field in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks fields a ground ball then throws out against the Washington Nationals Anthony Rendon in the 1st inning on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Chase field in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Washington Nationals Wilson Ramos rounds second and scores on a Ian Desmond triple to deep right against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2nd inning on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Chase field in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Addison Reed (43) reacts after giving up the tying run to Washington Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa (8) in the 9th inning of their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Addison Reed (43) reacts after giving up the tying run to Washington Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa (8) in the 9th inning of their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (26) looks on as Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span (2) greets Kevin Frandsen after his go ahead home run in the 9th inning of their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond (20) gets the force on Arizona Diamondbacks Ender Inciarte as he turns a double play in the 9th inning of their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Washington Nationals left fielder Kevin Frandsen (19) points to the crowd after his game winning home run in their 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond (20) gets the force on Arizona Diamondbacks Martin Prado (14) as e turns a double play to end the 7th inning of their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (26) reacts as Washington Nationals Wilson Ramos (40) greets Ian Desmond (20) after his two run home-run in the 4th inning of their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson greets third baseman Martin Prado (14) after he scored on a double by Paul Goldschmidt in the 3rd inning of their MLB game against the Washington Nationals Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) doubles in the 3rd inning of their MLB game against the Washington Nationals Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter (55) reacts after giving up a solo home run to Washington Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore (12) during the first inning of their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter (55) reacts after giving up a solo home run to Washington Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore (12) during the first inning of their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) throws his bat after striking out in the first inning against the Washington Nationals in their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter (55) throws in the first inning against the Washington Nationals in their MLB game Monday, May 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Recap: The Nationals scored four times in the top of the ninth inning off reliever Brad Ziegler to come away with a 5-1 win on Wednesday afternoon and a best-of-three series victory at Chase Field.

Ziegler, who hadn't allowed an earned run since April4, a span of 19 appearances, gave up two-run singles to Ian Desmond and Tyler Moore.

Both teams received strong outings from their starting pitcher. Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon McCarthy gave up just one run in eight innings while the Nationals' Doug Fister allowed one run in seven innings in just his second start since opening the season on the disabled list.

McCarthy's adjustment: McCarthy, who allowed only a solo home run to Jayson Werth in the top of the seventh, thinks he benefited from throwing fewer strikes on Wednesday.

"Mostly it was trying to just stay a little less on the plate, missing a little bit more intentionally," McCarthy said. "(I can get) in too much of a groove from just strike after strike after strike. For hitters, if you know the ball is on the plate it's a little easier to adjust when my strength isn't changing speeds."

Hill's day: Not only did Aaron Hill provide the Diamondbacks' only run on a solo home run in the fourth inning, he also made two diving stops defensively that kept runs from scoring.

"You get some ground balls sometimes that are diving distances and hopefully you make the play," Hill said.

His home run came on a 3-0 pitch from Fister. He's now 4 for 5 with two doubles on 3-0 pitches.

"Anytime a guy is pitching well like that, pitching down in the zone, I'm not looking to hit a home run, I'm just looking to get a pitch I can handle and hopefully do some damage with it," Hill said.

Strange challenge: In the ninth inning, the Nationals had to use their replay challenge for an unusual purpose — to contend that a Diamondbacks player actually caught a ball.

With one out and a runner on first, center fielder A.J. Pollock made a diving catch on a line drive by the Nationals' Jose Lobaton. But the play was initially ruled a trap, thus allowing the Diamondbacks to return the ball to the infield and turn a double play. Replays clearly showed Pollock caught the ball, and, after review, Lobaton was ruled out and baserunner Tyler Moore was sent back to first base.

— Nick Piecoro

View from the press box: With the team's dismal record, it's easy to hit the panic button after every loss. But not all losses are made alike. Fans should worry about Addison Reed, who has struggled despite racking up saves. Not so with Brad Ziegler. The submariner's streak of 181/3 scoreless innings entering Wednesday should carry more weight than his play against the Nationals.